Together, we thrive.
Meet other nonprofit leaders and fundraisers at Aperio’s virtual and in-person events. Share your ideas, learn from experts, and find a supportive and inspiring community.
Aperio book club
Our free, virtual book club meetings are interactive, small-group events for nonprofit leaders and fundraisers. Don't have time to read the book? No worries! Join us anyway to share your experiences and learn from others.
[Sign up for an upcoming meeting]
Panel discussions
Panel discussions offer a free, virtual opportunity to hear from thought leaders on the most pressing issues we face as nonprofit leaders and fundraisers. Curious about a topic we’ve already covered? Visit Fearless fundraisers to access recaps and videos of past panel discussions.
Happy hour events
It’s an exciting time to fundraise—but it’s also challenging, and sometimes we need a break! Our in-person happy hour events offer a moment to relax, debrief, and laugh with other fundraisers. No agenda, no presentations, just a good time with people who get you.
Upcoming events
The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences have Extraordinary Impact · Aperio Book Club
By Chip Heath & Dan Heath
Many of the defining moments in our lives are the result of accident or luck—but why would we leave our most meaningful, memorable moments to chance when we can create them?
What if a teacher could design a lesson that he knew his students would remember twenty years later? What if a doctor or nurse knew how to orchestrate moments that would bring more comfort to patients? What if you had a better sense of how to create memories that matter for your children?
The Power of Moments features captivating stories of people who have created standout moments. Filled with remarkable stories and practical insights, The Power of Moments proves we all have the power to transform ordinary experiences into unforgettable ones.
Join us at this month’s book club for a lively conversation with nonprofit leaders and fundraisers. We'll discuss what we've learned from the book and how we're applying it to our day-to-day lives.
[Learn more about the book and order your copy at Goodreads]
Note: This will be an interactive, small-group event. Don't have time to read the book? No worries! Join us anyway to share your experiences and learn from others.
Fundraising Without Burnout: Radically Reimagining Philanthropy to Transform Your Impact · Aperio Book Club
by Radha Friedman
Fundraising for your nonprofit can feel never-ending and stressful, causing many fundraisers to burn out and quit.
You believe in the mission, and you do whatever it takes to reach your fundraising goals. However, somewhere along the way, you’ve inadvertently run over your boundaries and confused your priorities. You are overworked, overstressed, and starting to understand how Sisyphus must have felt pushing that boulder up the hill in vain.
In Fundraising without Burnout, Radha Friedman, a philanthropic advisor with decades of experience funding nonprofits around the world, offers a frank and witty critique of how the “best practices” we’ve been taught are actually sabotaging our fundraising efforts. By debunking the myths that keep inequitable practices in place, Radha provides solutions that help nonprofit leaders redefine their purpose, prevent burnout, and meet their fundraising goals while reclaiming their peace.
Join us at this month’s book club for a lively conversation with nonprofit leaders and fundraisers. We'll discuss what we've learned from the book and how we're applying it to our day-to-day lives.
[Learn more about the book and order your copy at Goodreads]
Note: This will be an interactive, small-group event. Don't have time to read the book? No worries! Join us anyway to share your experiences and learn from others.
Building fundraising resiliency series · Session three: Using metrics as a tool for resiliency
The word ‘metrics’ sparks many feelings for fundraisers—from a sense of stability to frustration with unattainable goals.
At their best, however, metrics create a practical roadmap to the aspirational goals we work toward as fundraisers. They keep our outreach consistent throughout the year, enabling us to reach a large community of supporters and form lasting relationships. This panel will explore:
Why are metrics so central to fundraising success and resiliency?
How can teams and individual fundraisers use them most effectively?
How can teams create a healthy culture around metrics, avoiding common pitfalls?
Meet our expert panelists
Moderator:
Beth Katznelson (she/her), NYU Adjunct Professor and Founder & Principal - Contributing Factor Consultancy
Panelists:
Michael Karg (he/him), Executive Director of Development – California State University, Fullerton College of Engineering & Computer Science
Liz Fitzgerald (she/her), Director of Development – ACLU
Melanie Buhrmaster (she/her), Vice President, Philanthropy – Food Bank For New York City
Leya Petrovani Miller (she/her), Managing Director – Aperio Philanthropy
About this event series
In an uncertain world, we need nonprofits more than ever. But uncertainty affects nonprofits too, complicating everything from strategic planning to service delivery. For fundraisers, the demands are high: Raise funds today—and deliver the growth for tomorrow. Aperio Philanthropy, in collaboration with the NYU SPS Heyman Program, will host three free, virtual panel discussions to explore:
How do we build fundraising resiliency in an environment where the only certainty is uncertainty?
How do we make revenue growth that is predictable?
How do we craft strategies that work no matter the surprises, changes, and crises that come our way?
Building fundraising resiliency series · Session two: Diversifying revenue
Revenue diversification is top-of-mind for nonprofit leaders.
It’s natural for organizations to gravitate to a small number of revenue sources, such as events, grants, or a small number of big donors. But, as many organizations have experienced recently, it’s also risky.
Our panel will explore:
How can diversification create fundraising resiliency?
How do we build new revenue streams, particularly on a base of a robust events program?
How do you avoid spreading your team too thin?
Moderator:
Cassy Cox (she/her), Senior Director, Institutional Partnerships - Accion
Panelists:
Abby Farris Rogers (she/her), EVP, Chief Development Officer – YMCA of the USA
Cortney Nicolato (she/her), President and CEO – United Way of Rhode Island
Tunde Wackman (she/her), Chief Development Officer – World Central Kitchen
About this event series
In an uncertain world, we need nonprofits more than ever. But uncertainty affects nonprofits too, complicating everything from strategic planning to service delivery. For fundraisers, the demands are high: Raise funds today—and deliver the growth for tomorrow. Aperio Philanthropy, in collaboration with the NYU SPS Heyman Program, will host three free, virtual panel discussions to explore:
How do we build fundraising resiliency in an environment where the only certainty is uncertainty?
How do we make revenue growth that is predictable?
How do we craft strategies that work no matter the surprises, changes, and crises that come our way?
Building fundraising resiliency series · Session one: Building real relationships
Relationships are the foundation of fundraising resiliency.
A broad, diverse, and engaged coalition of donors can fuel a mission year over year, even through crisis or uncertainty—but donor loyalty doesn’t happen automatically. This panel will explore:
What it does it take to build real relationships with donors?
What inspires donor loyalty and ongoing investment?
How can lean teams expand their reach?
About this event series
In an uncertain world, we need nonprofits more than ever. But uncertainty affects nonprofits too, complicating everything from strategic planning to service delivery. For fundraisers, the demands are high: Raise funds today—and deliver the growth for tomorrow. Aperio Philanthropy, in collaboration with the NYU SPS Heyman Program, will host three free, virtual panel discussions to explore:
How do we build fundraising resiliency in an environment where the only certainty is uncertainty?
How do we make revenue growth that is predictable?
How do we craft strategies that work no matter the surprises, changes, and crises that come our way?
Moderator:
Cheryl Gentry (she/her), Adjunct Instructor, NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs
Panelists:
Kristine Templin (she/ her), Chief Development Officer, Meals on Wheels America
Sara Lipsky (she/her), VP, Philanthropy, Shatterproof
Kate Landon (she/her), Executive Director, Ban Ki-moon Foundation
Janet Kingsbury Warren (she/her), Senior Managing Director, Dartmouth College Fund
Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds · Aperio Book Club
by adrienne marie brown
Guest facilitator: Michael G. Guerra
Chief Sustainability Officer,
San Antonio Food Bank
Michael Guerra was hired in 2011 as the Chief Development Officer and was recently designated a new role as the Chief Sustainability Officer at the San Antonio Food Bank. In this executive leadership role, Guerra oversees an annual effort to secure $200 million in fundraising and food sourcing to sustain for the Food Bank’s mission. Since beginning his leadership role at the Food Bank, he has helped secure more than $2 billion in funds and food to help set the table for those in southwest Texas at risk for hunger.
Change is constant. The world is in a continual state of flux. It is a stream of ever-mutating, emergent patterns. Rather than steel ourselves against such change, this book invites us to feel, map, assess, and learn from the swirling patterns around us in order to better understand and influence them as they happen.
Inspired by Octavia Butler's explorations of our human relationship to change, Emergent Strategy is radical self-help, society-help, and planet-help designed to shape the futures we want to live.
Join us at this month’s (free, virtual) book club for a lively conversation with nonprofit leaders and fundraisers. We'll discuss what we've learned from the book and how we're applying it to our day-to-day lives.
[Learn more about the book and order your copy at Goodreads]
Note: This will be an interactive small-group event. Don't have time to read the book? No worries! Join us anyway to share your experiences and learn from others.
Founder & funder: Fall event series
What would you want your startup organization’s mission to achieve—if only you had the funding? What would you want your philanthropic dollars to achieve—if only you had the right investment vehicle?
As nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, philanthropists, and funders, we know what lies at the heart and power of every organization: relationships. And one of the most compelling relationships is the relationship between a nonprofit’s founder and its first funder. In these early discussions between founder and funder, an organization’s vision, mission, and values start to take root—paving the way for transformational impact in our communities.
This series features successful nonprofit founders and their first funders sharing their respective experiences in conversation:
How did they first learn about their shared passion for the mission?
What was most important in establishing trust with each other?
What conversations were most critical throughout the process?
What advice would you give to nonprofit founders looking to fund their startup nonprofit?
What advice would you give to funders on how to maximize investment in a startup nonprofit?
Moderator
Lu Hanessian (she/her), Adjunct Instructor, NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs
Founder
Jabee Williams (he/him), Executive Director, Live Free OKC
Funder
Perrin Duncan (she/her), Special Projects Manager, Arnall Family Foundation
This virtual event series is offered in collaboration with the George H. Heyman, Jr. Program for Philanthropy and Fundraising within the NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs.
Founder & funder: Fall event series
What would you want your startup organization’s mission to achieve—if only you had the funding? What would you want your philanthropic dollars to achieve—if only you had the right investment vehicle?
As nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, philanthropists, and funders, we know what lies at the heart and power of every organization: relationships. And one of the most compelling relationships is the relationship between a nonprofit’s founder and its first funder. In these early discussions between founder and funder, an organization’s vision, mission, and values start to take root—paving the way for transformational impact in our communities.
This series features successful nonprofit founders and their first funders sharing their respective experiences in conversation:
How did they first learn about their shared passion for the mission?
What was most important in establishing trust with each other?
What conversations were most critical throughout the process?
What advice would you give to nonprofit founders looking to fund their startup nonprofit?
What advice would you give to funders on how to maximize investment in a startup nonprofit?
Moderator: Liz Ngonzi (she/her), Founder and CEO of The International Social Impact Institute® and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at New York University's Center for Global Affairs
Founder: Carmita Semaan (she/her), Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Surge Institute
Funder: Julie Mikuta (she/her), Co-President Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
This virtual event series is offered in collaboration with the George H. Heyman, Jr. Program for Philanthropy and Fundraising within the NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs.
A Generous Heart: Changing the World Through Feminist Philanthropy · Aperio Book Club
by Kristen Corning Bedford
Discovering your philanthropic purpose, and honing the tools and resources to act on that purpose, takes consideration and contemplation. Done properly, this work is a gift to yourself and to the world.
Feminist philanthropy operates on the principles of solidarity, agency, and reciprocity. It has arisen from a movement of people who demand to be a voice at the table, to recognize nature as a guide, and to treat each other as one. Using feminism to develop our philanthropy engages a systems perspective, one that shifts our narrative from one of extraction to one of co-creation, and centers our giving on achieving wholeness and equity. When you approach your giving with this mindset, you're better able to align your privilege with your purpose.
A Generous Heart guides you on a journey to examine your intent and your passion, in order to create joyful change in the world and in yourself. You are a philanthropist—and you have everything you need to make a difference.
Join us at this month’s book club for a lively conversation with nonprofit leaders and fundraisers. We'll discuss what we've learned from the book and how we're applying it to our day-to-day lives.
[Learn more about the book and order your copy at Goodreads]
Note: This will be an interactive, small-group event. Don't have time to read the book? No worries! Join us anyway to share your experiences and learn from others.
Aperio summer sessions: Creating a roadmap to your goal
Aperio Summer Sessions:
The relationship-based fundraising toolbox
In nonprofit fundraising, summer is the season to regroup and plan for the coming year. This year, Aperio is going back to the basics with a three-part series on the fundamentals of relationship-based fundraising.
In these free, online lunchtime discussions, you’ll learn to organize your donor lists, create your donor engagement plan, and develop a roadmap to your goal.
When your team strategically invests in cultivating donor relationships, the result is increased donor loyalty, increased engagement, and increased revenue for your mission.
Session 3: Creating a roadmap to your goal
Fundraising success depends on creating a plan that is both strategically visionary and rigorously practical—simplifying the path to achieving your goal.
Through creating a roadmap, you will be able to drive pace, productivity, and results—all while making sure you are cultivating and building relationships authentically and with intention.
In this session you’ll learn:
How to create a donor pyramid
How to plan for your specific number of asks
How to identify what gaps exist and how to close them
Do you need customized, hands-on support to kickstart your relationship-based fundraising program? At Aperio, our experts work alongside your team to produce results quickly—and set you up for future success. We are offering a free 30-minute consultation to Summer Session attendees. Just sign up, attend, and you’ll receive an email invitation to schedule your consultation.
Aperio summer sessions: Creating your donor engagement plan
Aperio Summer Sessions:
The relationship-based fundraising toolbox
In nonprofit fundraising, summer is the season to regroup and plan for the coming year. This year, Aperio is going back to the basics with a three-part series on the fundamentals of relationship-based fundraising.
In these free, online lunchtime discussions, you’ll learn to organize your donor lists, create your donor engagement plan, and develop a roadmap to your goal.
When your team strategically invests in cultivating donor relationships, the result is increased donor loyalty, increased engagement, and increased revenue for your mission.
Session 2: Creating your donor engagement plan
A donor engagement plan ensures that every donor has a meaningful experience that grows their relationship, engagement, and giving over time—and creates a roadmap for your team to make the best use of their time.
Combined with organized donor lists—the focus of the first event in this series—creating a donor engagement plan builds donors’ confidence that their gifts are making the intended impact, their partnership makes a difference, and they play a crucial role in the future of your mission.
In this session you’ll learn:
What a donor engagement plan is
How to create a donor engagement plan
How to use a donor engagement plan
Do you need customized, hands-on support to kickstart your relationship-based fundraising program? At Aperio, our experts work alongside your team to produce results quickly—and set you up for future success. We are offering a free 30-minute consultation to Summer Session attendees. Just sign up, attend, and you’ll receive an email invitation to schedule your consultation.
Aperio summer sessions: Organizing your donor lists
Aperio Summer Sessions:
The relationship-based fundraising toolbox
In nonprofit fundraising, summer is the season to regroup and plan for the coming year. This year, Aperio is going back to the basics with a three-part series on the fundamentals of relationship-based fundraising.
In these free, online lunchtime discussions, you’ll learn to organize your donor lists, create your donor engagement plan, and develop a roadmap to your goal.
When your team strategically invests in cultivating donor relationships, the result is increased donor loyalty, increased engagement, and increased revenue for your mission.
Session 1: Organizing your donor lists
Organizing your lists is the first step to cultivating donor relationships to their highest potential—and for everyone on your team understanding their part in the process.
How well do you know your donor lists? When was the last time you studied their potential? How confident are you that you are interacting with the right donors in the right way at the right time?
Combined with an engagement plan—which we’ll discuss next in this series—list organization builds donors’ confidence that their gifts are making the intended impact, their partnership makes a difference, and they play a crucial role in the future of your mission.
In this session you’ll learn:
How to get a basic understanding of the donors in your database
How to create basic donor segments
How to narrow down a shortlist of highest-potential donors
Do you need customized, hands-on support to kickstart your relationship-based fundraising program? At Aperio, our experts work alongside your team to produce results quickly—and set you up for future success. We are offering a free 30-minute consultation to Summer Session attendees. Just sign up, attend, and you’ll receive an email invitation to schedule your consultation.
Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World · Aperio Book Club
How can we originate new ideas, policies, and practices without risking it all?
Originals addresses the challenge of improving the world from the perspective of becoming original: choosing to champion novel ideas and values that go against the grain, battle conformity, and buck outdated traditions.
Using surprising studies and stories spanning business, politics, sports, and entertainment, Originals explores:
how to recognize a good idea, speak up without getting silenced, build a coalition of allies, choose the right time to act, and manage fear and doubt
how parents and teachers can nurture originality in children
how leaders can build cultures that welcome dissent
The payoff is a set of groundbreaking insights about rejecting conformity and improving the status quo.
Join us at this month’s (free, virtual) book club for a lively conversation with nonprofit leaders and fundraisers. We'll discuss what we've learned from the book and how we're applying it to our day-to-day lives.
Note: This will be an interactive small-group event. Don't have time to read the book? No worries! Join us anyway to share your experiences and learn from others.
How philanthropy can advance housing equity
Housing is a human right. Yet, homelessness, housing discrimination, unaffordable housing, and a myriad of other problems continue to plague communities across the country.
This panel will explore how philanthropists and funders have been–and should be–approaching support for accessible, affordable, and secure housing? How can they defend and advance rights and access to services for homeowners and tenants? How can they center community needs in their activism? They’ll discuss the role of philanthropy, as well as recommendations for nonprofits seeking to deepen partnerships with philanthropists in these areas.
Moderator
Matthew Kwatinetz (he/him), Clinical Assistant Professor of Real Estate Economics at NYU School of Professional Studies Schack Institute of Real Estate and the Director of the NYU Urban Lab
Panelists
Cy Richardson (he/him), Senior Vice President for Programs, National Urban League
Aubrey Merriman (he/him), Chief Executive Officer, LifeMoves
Kyle Bennett (he/him), Senior Director of Policy and Equity, United Way of Rhode Island
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This event series is offered in collaboration with the George H. Heyman, Jr. Program for Philanthropy and Fundraising within the NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs.
Simple Development Systems: Successful Fundraising for the One-Person Shop
How do solo nonprofit fundraisers find their focus, lose the overwhelm, create a strategy, and—most importantly—fund the mission?
Discover how to create the donor-focused fundraising systems that move your organization forward—even in a crisis:
nonprofit storytelling
foundation grants
fundraising planning
multichannel fundraising appeals
donor newsletters
nonprofit annual reports
starting your monthly giving program
selecting Your CRM
Loaded with tools, templates, and even recorded webinars, Simple Development Systems will get you off the fundraising hamster wheel once and for all. You’ll learn how to systematize your fundraising and grow an individual donor base upon which your nonprofit can rely through any crisis.
Join us at this month’s (free, virtual) book club for a lively conversation with nonprofit leaders and fundraisers. We'll discuss what we've learned from the book and how we're applying it to our day-to-day lives.
Note: This will be an interactive small-group event. Don't have time to read the book? No worries! Join us anyway to share your experiences and learn from others.
How philanthropy can respond to crisis
When disaster hits, what is the role of philanthropy in advancing recovery efforts? Oftentimes, nonprofits are some of the first responders to crises, whether they be disaster-related or humanitarian. What does it mean for our sector to be a first responder?
This panel will explore how philanthropists and fundraisers have been–and should be–approaching recovery efforts. How can we center community needs in our support? How do we make sure recovery efforts remain relevant to our donor communities once the disaster moves out of the news cycle? What lessons can nonprofits learn in scaling up to meet these needs when dollars quickly pour in? They’ll discuss the role of philanthropy, as well as recommendations for nonprofits seeking to deepen partnerships with philanthropists in these areas.
Moderator
Chloe Demrovsky (she/her), President & CEO, Disaster Recovery Institute International
Panelists
Amanda Lepof (she/her), Executive Director of Fundraising Programs and Operations, American Red Cross
Maria Lopez-Nuñez (she/her), Deputy Director of Organizing and Advocacy, Ironbound Community Corporation
Jeffrey Correa (he/him), Senior Director of Major Giving, International Rescue Committee
—
This event series is offered in collaboration with the George H. Heyman, Jr. Program for Philanthropy and Fundraising within the NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs.
Decolonizing philanthropy
When it comes to racial equity, philanthropy is part of the problem. Our history of colonialism still impacts how philanthropy redistributes wealth in the United States—and it's up to us, the philanthropic and fundraising community, to fix that.
Following the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, philanthropic giving became more equitable, transparent, and available. But has philanthropy continued to embrace systemic change in the long term? Have we slid backward as the movement's momentum waned?
This panel of philanthropists and fundraisers will assess how funders and nonprofits are doing in their efforts to decolonize. What positive changes do we continue to see? Where do we need to continue pushing change? They’ll offer recommendations for nonprofits seeking to deepen partnerships with philanthropists that center equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Moderator:
George Suttles (he/him), Executive Director, Commonfund Institute
Panelists:
Cynthia Heard (she/her), Chief Operating Officer, Los Angeles Urban League
Hali Lee (she/her), Founding Partner, Radiant Strategies and Founder & Director, Asian Women Giving Circle
Rickke Mananzala (he/him), Executive Director, New York Foundation
—
This event series is offered in collaboration with the George H. Heyman, Jr. Program for Philanthropy and Fundraising within the NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs.
Book Club · Did That Just Happen?!
This month’s book: Did That Just Happen?! Beyond “Diversity”— Creating Sustainable and Inclusive Organizations
By Lauren Wadsworth and Stephanie Pinder-Amaker
We know that diverse teams are stronger, smarter, and more profitable, and many companies are attempting to hire more diverse teams, but most struggle to create a real culture of inclusivity in which people from all backgrounds feel comfortable.
As clinical psychologists, as well as individuals with marginalized identities, Dr. Stephanie Pinder-Amaker and Dr. Lauren Wadsworth show the emotional and physical impact of marginalization and how that leads to a decrease in employee engagement and, often, increased job turnover
Did That Just Happen?! will be invaluable for employees who come from underrepresented communities and identities (identities discussed include race, age, disability, sexual orientation, citizenship status, and gender expression). But the book is essential for leaders of companies, supervisors, HR departments, and for anyone who wants to understand and support diversity/equity/inclusion practices. The book will also make readers feel more confident in their navigating of friendships/interactions with people who hold different identities.
Here's a link to order the book.
Join us at this month’s book club for a lively conversation with nonprofit leaders and fundraisers. We'll discuss what we've learned from the book and how we're applying it to our day-to-day lives.
Note: This will be an interactive, small-group event. Don't have time to read the book? No worries! Join us anyway to share your experiences and learn from others.
Join the Aperio book club.
Join the Aperio book club to meet and share ideas with other nonprofit leaders and fundraisers! Each month, we’ll meet (virtually) to discuss our book of the month and takeaways for our work and lives.
Kansas City Happy Hour
Grab a drink and mingle with other nonprofit professionals and the Kansas City Aperio team at King G’s in the Pit Bar on October 20th from 5-8 pm. Invite a friend and join us—drinks and good company await!
How philanthropy can advance women's rights
Explore how philanthropists and funders have been–and should be–approaching support for the advancement of women’s rights.
In its 2021 report, the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy released its third annual Women & Girls Index–indicating that women’s and girls’ organizations only received 1.9% of overall charitable giving in 2018. At the same time, women’s rights and access to services is being eroded at the federal, state, and local levels.
This panel will explore how philanthropists and funders have been–and should be–approaching their support for gender equality. They’ll discuss the role of philanthropy, as well as recommendations for nonprofits seeking to deepen partnerships with philanthropists in these areas.
Moderator:
Dr. Sylvia Maier (she/her), Center for Global Affairs at NYU School of Professional Studies
Panelists:
KD Chavez (they/she) – Development Director, UltraViolet
Wendy Doyle (she/her)– President & CEO, United WE
Françoise Girard (she/her) – Chief Executive Officer, Feminism Makes Us Smarter
Rufaro Kangai (she/her) – Director of Individual Major Gifts, Global Fund for Women
This event series is offered in collaboration with the George H. Heyman, Jr. Program for Philanthropy and Fundraising within the NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs.
Book Club · Generation Impact
This month’s book: Generation Impact: How Next Gen Donors are Revolutionizing Giving
By Sharna Goldseker
Meet the next generation of big donors—the Gen X and Millennial philanthropists who will be the most significant donors ever and will shape our world in profound ways.
As "next gen donors" step into their philanthropic roles, they have not only unprecedented financial resources, but also big ideas for how to wield their financial power. They want to disrupt the traditional world of charitable giving, and they want to do so now, not after they retire to a life of philanthropic leisure.
Generation Impact: How Next Gen Donors Are Revolutionizing Giving pulls back the curtain on these rising donors and the "Impact Revolution" they seek.
Here's a link to order the book.
Join us at this month’s book club for a lively conversation with nonprofit leaders and fundraisers. We'll discuss what we've learned from the book and how we're applying it to our day-to-day lives.
Note: This will be an interactive, small-group event. Don't have time to read the book? No worries! Join us anyway to share your experiences and learn from others.
Join the Aperio book club.
Join the Aperio book club to meet and share ideas with other nonprofit leaders and fundraisers! Each month, we’ll meet (virtually) to discuss our book of the month and takeaways for our work and lives.
How philanthropy can advance LGBTQIA+ equality
Explore how philanthropists and funders have been–and should be–approaching support for the LGBTQIA+ community.
In recent years, anti-LGBTQ bills have been filed in states around the country, attempting to curtail rights and access to services. Organizers have responded through grassroots and coordinated efforts. Nonprofits have stepped up to respond as well.
This panel will explore how philanthropists and funders have been–and should be–approaching support for the LGBTQIA+ community. How can they defend and advance rights and access to services? How can they center community needs in their activism? They’ll discuss the role of philanthropy, as well as recommendations for nonprofits seeking to deepen partnerships with philanthropists in these areas.
Moderator:
Dr. Sylvia Maier (she/her), Center for Global Affairs at NYU School of Professional Studies
Panelists:
Sarah Kate Ellis (she/her), President and CEO, GLAAD
Kris Hayashi (he/him), Executive Director, Transgender Law Center
Rebecca Fox (she/her), Vice President of Programs, Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice
Katie Hultquist (she/her), Director of Leadership Giving, OutRight Action International
This event series is offered in collaboration with the George H. Heyman, Jr. Program for Philanthropy and Fundraising within the NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs.
Book Club · Madam C. J. Walker's Gospel of Giving
This month’s book: Madam C. J. Walker's Gospel of Giving
By Tyrone McKinley Freeman
Founder of a beauty empire, Madam C. J. Walker was celebrated as America's first self-made female millionaire in the early 1900s. Known as a leading African American entrepreneur, Walker was also devoted to an activist philanthropy aimed at empowering African Americans and challenging the injustices inflicted by Jim Crow.
Tyrone McKinley Freeman's biography highlights how giving shaped Walker's life before and after she became wealthy. Poor and widowed when she arrived in St. Louis in her twenties, Walker found mentorship among black churchgoers and working black women. Her adoption of faith, racial uplift, education, and self-help soon informed her dedication to assisting black women's entrepreneurship, financial independence, and activism. Walker embedded her philanthropy in how she grew her business, forged alliances with groups like the National Association of Colored Women, funded schools and social service agencies led by African American women, and enlisted her company's sales agents in local charity and advocacy work.
Illuminating and dramatic, Madam C. J. Walker’s Gospel of Giving broadens our understanding of black women’s charitable giving and establishes Walker as a foremother of African American philanthropy.
Join us at this month’s book club for a lively conversation with nonprofit leaders and fundraisers. We'll discuss what we've learned from the book and how we're applying it to our day-to-day lives.
Here's a link to order the book.
Note: This will be an interactive, small-group event. Don't have time to read the book? No worries! Join us anyway to share your experiences and learn from others.
Join the Aperio book club.
Join the Aperio book club to meet and share ideas with other nonprofit leaders and fundraisers! Each month, we’ll meet (virtually) to discuss our book of the month and takeaways for our work and lives.
How philanthropy can advance economic equality
How can philanthropy advance economic equality?
Economic inequality in the U.S. has been increasing for decades–and has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Millions of Americans struggle to make ends meet today, much less prepare for the future or build up resilience in case of future crises.
This panel will explore how philanthropists and funders have been—and should be—contributing to recovery from the pandemic and financial well-being going forward. They’ll discuss the role of philanthropy in efforts such as providing emergency support, expanding financial inclusion, alleviating poverty, and addressing the root causes of poverty.
Moderator:
Steven Godeke, Founder of Godeke Consulting and Adjust Professor of Finance at NYU’s Stern School of Business
Panelists:
Kristine Borok, Chief Operating Officer and Acting Chief Development Officer, Hot Bread Kitchen
Caitlyn Brazill, Chief Development Officer, Per Scholas
Dr. Stacy Dykstra, Chief Executive Officer, Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
Dr. Seft Hunter, Director of Black-Led Organizing and Power Building, Community Change Action
This event series is offered as a collaboration between Aperio Philanthropy and the George H. Heyman, Jr. Program for Philanthropy and Fundraising within the NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs.
Book Club · Effortless
This month’s book: Effortless
By Greg McKeown
From the author of the million-copy-selling Essentialism comes an empowering guide to achieving your goals. It all starts with a simple principle: Not everything has to be so hard.
Do you ever feel like:
You’re teetering right on the edge of burnout?
You want to make a higher contribution, but lack the energy?
You’re running faster but not moving closer to your goals?
Everything is so much harder than it used to be?
Getting ahead doesn’t have to be as hard as we make it. No matter what challenges or obstacles we face, there is a better way: Instead of pushing ourselves harder, we can find an easier path. Effortless offers actionable advice for making the most essential activities the easiest ones, so you can achieve the results you want, without burning out.
Join us at this month’s book club for a lively conversation with nonprofit leaders and fundraisers. We'll discuss what we've learned from the book and how we're applying it to our day-to-day lives.
Here's a link to order the book.
Note: This will be an interactive, small-group event. Don't have time to read the book? No worries! Join us anyway to share your experiences and learn from others.
Join the Aperio book club.
Join the Aperio book club to meet and share ideas with other nonprofit leaders and fundraisers! Each month, we’ll meet (virtually) to discuss our book of the month and takeaways for our work and lives.
How philanthropy can advance environmental justice
How can philanthropy advance environmental justice?
Community well-being is intrinsically tied to environmental health. The environment cannot be ignored in efforts to advance human rights, social justice, health equity, and other priorities. The environmental justice movement has broadened the scope of environmentalism beyond conservation and protection to aiming for the creation of healthy places to live for everyone. How do we treat those affected by pollution, climate change, and other costs of economic production fairly? How do we meaningfully involve stakeholders in the decisions that affect their lives?
This panel will explore how philanthropists and funders have been—and should be—approaching this movement toward environmental justice. They’ll discuss the role of philanthropy, as well as recommendations for nonprofits seeking to deepen partnerships with philanthropists in these areas.
Moderated by: Dr. Carolyn Kissane, Academic Director and Clinical Professor, NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs; Director, NYU SPS Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab
Panel to include:
Jamiah Adams, Senior Vice President of Diversity and Justice, The Climate Reality Project
Lylianna Allala, Climate Justice Director, City of Seattle’s Office of Sustainability and Environment
King Laughlin, SVP, Principal Gifts, National Park Foundation
Melissa Miles, Executive Director, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance
Peggy Shepard, Co-Founder and Executive Director, WE ACT for Environmental Justice
This event series is offered as a collaboration between Aperio Philanthropy and the George H. Heyman, Jr. Program for Philanthropy and Fundraising within the NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs.
Book Club · Collecting Courage
This month’s book: Collecting Courage
Edited by Nneka Allen, Camila Vital Nunes Pereira, and Nicole Salmon
Collecting Courage: Joy, Pain, Freedom, Love is a collection of stories documenting racism and survival by 14 accomplished Black fundraisers working in charities across North America. With searing and intimate detail, they write about their experiences with anti-Black racism—about coping with being last hired, first fired, overlooked for promotion to outright hostility in toxic workplaces. Their testimony chips away at the idea of the inherent goodness of the charitable sector.
“First and foremost, this book is the start of a process to systematically document our experiences, so our voices are the ones that shape the narrative,” say the editors. “Secondly, for those whom our stories resonate, we hope they give you the courage to voice your own experience.
“Finally, for those committed to being allies and accomplices in dismantling barriers and championing a sector culture of belonging and reciprocity, we hope the book illuminates a path to action.”
Join us at this month’s book club for a lively conversation with nonprofit leaders and fundraisers. We'll discuss what we've learned from the book and how we're applying it to our day-to-day lives.
Here's a link to order the book.
Note: This will be an interactive, small-group event. Don't have time to read the book? No worries! Join us anyway to share your experiences and learn from others.
Join the Aperio book club.
Join the Aperio book club to meet and share ideas with other nonprofit leaders and fundraisers! Each month, we’ll meet (virtually) to discuss our book of the month and takeaways for our work and lives.
How philanthropy can advance health equity
How can philanthropy advance health equity?
The pandemic has shifted how we think about our healthcare system. Crisis exposed deep and systemic inequities in access, affordability, and standards of care–and therefore mortality rates and quality of life. As we move forward, how do we close gaps? Center community needs? Improve outcomes?
This panel will explore how philanthropists and funders have been—and should be—approaching this reimagining of healthcare. They’ll discuss the role of philanthropy in efforts such as addressing the social determinants of health, deepening community collaboration, advancing patient-centric care, and accelerating systemic change within healthcare institutions—as well as recommendations for nonprofits seeking to deepen partnerships with philanthropists in these areas.
Moderator:
Gianna Jackson, Special Counsel, Aperio Philanthropy
Panelists:
Chris Connolly, Associate Director, Clinton Health Access Initiative; adjunct instructor, NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs
Daniel Frascella, Chief Program and Grants Officer, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation
Roger Rennekamp, Extension Health Director, Association for Public and Land-grant Universities
Stephen B. Thomas, Professor and Director, Maryland Center for Health Equity, University of Maryland
This event series is offered as a collaboration between Aperio Philanthropy and the George H. Heyman, Jr. Program for Philanthropy and Fundraising within the NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs.
Book Club · No More Duct Tape Fundraising
This month’s book: No More Duct Tape Fundraising
by Rachel Ramjattan
As the executive director of a nonprofit, the reality of being responsible for raising money to keep your programs operating is overwhelming. You keep it together, but often you just want a fundraising coach and a team to help, so you don’t have to worry about turning people away or running out of money.
Rachel Ramjattan, a national fundraiser with decades of experience fundraising, understands how you feel. In No More Duct Tape Fundraising, Rachel walks you through the eight-step process she uses to raise money efficiently and build a fundraising team. You’ll learn how to:
Create a fundraising plan to manage fundraising
Inspire people to give
Upgrade existing donors
Generate predictable revenue to sustain your programs
Get your board (and staff) on board with fundraising
Join us at this month’s book club for a lively conversation with nonprofit leaders and fundraisers. We'll discuss what we've learned from the book and how we're applying it to our day-to-day lives.
Here's a link to order the book.
Note: This will be an interactive, small-group event. Don't have time to read the book? No worries! Join us anyway to share your experiences and learn from others.
Join the Aperio book club.
Join the Aperio book club to meet and share ideas with other nonprofit leaders and fundraisers! Each month, we’ll meet (virtually) to discuss our book of the month and takeaways for our work and lives.
How philanthropy can strengthen our democracy
How can philanthropy help strengthen democracy?
Democracy is top-of-mind for Americans across the political spectrum. The pandemic and 2020 elections sharpened our focus on questions that have been building for decades: As our society evolves, what does good governance look like? How do ensure that it happens? What role do we all play in the process?
This panel will explore how philanthropists and funders have been—and should be—approaching this reimagining of a healthy American democracy. They’ll discuss the role of philanthropy in efforts such as strengthening government infrastructure, the electoral process, and civic engagement, as well as recommendations for nonprofits seeking to deepen partnerships with philanthropists in these areas.
Moderator:
Dr. Raymond Smith, Adjunct Associate Professor, NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs
Panelists:
Steve Choi, Executive Director, One for Democracy
Alexandra Reeve Givens, President & CEO, Center for Democracy & Technology
Joe Goldman, CEO, Democracy Fund
Anne Snouck-Hurgronje, Chief Development Officer, Issue One
This is the first in a four-part event series—How philanthropy drives change. This event series is offered as a collaboration between Aperio Philanthropy and the George H. Heyman, Jr. Program for Philanthropy and Fundraising within the NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs.
Book Club · Ask Without Fear
This month’s book: Ask Without Fear
by Marc A. Pitman
Is fundraising fun for you? Are your board members beating down your door with new donors ready to make a gift? If that's not your reality yet, international fundraising trainer Marc A. Pitman's Ask Without Fear is for you!
In this fun, easy-to-read book, he:
Explains in a step-by-step, easy to remember process how to build authentic relationships with your donors—and help them connect with your cause in the way that matters most to them
Identifies time-tested research tools to help you plan your fundraising campaign
Exposes the 7 most common fundraising mistakes—and how to avoid them
Shows how to become skilled at identifying a person's personality traits and tailoring your message to fit their personality—even on the fly
Perfect for nonprofit employees and board members, Ask Without Fear helps you move your fundraising from a static, one-way, organization-centered monologue to a dynamic, donor-centered, two-way dialogue. This book gives you the tools to raise serious money for your favorite cause.
Join us at this month’s book club for a lively conversation with nonprofit leaders and fundraisers. We'll discuss what we've learned from the book and how we're applying it to our day-to-day lives.
Here's a link to order the book.
Note: This will be an interactive, small-group event. Don't have time to read the book? No worries! Join us anyway to share your experiences and learn from others.
Join the Aperio book club.
Join the Aperio book club to meet and share ideas with other nonprofit leaders and fundraisers! Each month, we’ll meet (virtually) to discuss our book of the month and takeaways for our work and lives.
Driving change: Board engagement
Fundraisers across the country have declared: We’re not going back to the way things were. We are leaning into the power of nonprofits to create change, healing, and joy. At the same time, we are reckoning with our industry’s origin in and perpetuation of systemic racism--and dismantling it.
This series of panel discussions will explore: What does this overhaul of fundraising look like in practice? How do we think bigger? Center our communities? Invest in our own capacity? Join us to hear from nonprofit leaders and fundraisers about how they are driving new thinking and new approaches in storytelling, fundraising team leadership, and board engagement.
Timothy Higdon, President and CEO at Hearing Health Foundation (moderator)
Bali Lambie-Boyer, Vice President of Development, Feeding Westchester
Jennifer Li Dotson, Board of Directors, AFP U.S. Foundation for Philanthropy
Laura Safran, Managing Director, Aperio Philanthropy
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This series is offered by the George H. Heyman Jr. Program in Philanthropy and Fundraising housed within the Center for Global Affairs in collaboration with Aperio Philanthropy.